Huge Road Closures in Downtown DC at Rush Hour on Thursday for Christmas Tree Lighting

WASHINGTON, DC — The 94th National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony will take place on Thursday, Dec. 1 on the Ellipse in front of the White House, and that will mean huge road closures in the area on that day that will start well before rush hour, so be prepared if you commute to work near there.

Starting at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, the following streets will be closed and reopened at 7 p.m.:

• 17th Street, NW closed from Independence Avenue to New York Avenue, NW
• 15th Street, NW closed from Independence Avenue to E Street NW
• Constitution Avenue from 14th Street to 18th Street, NW
• Madison Drive from 14th Street to 15th Street
• Jefferson Drive from 14th Street to 15th Street
• C St NW from 18th Street to 17th Street
• D St NW from 18th Street to 17th Street
• E St NW from 18th Street to 17th Street
• F St NW from 18th Street to 17th Street

Starting at 4:30 p.m., the following streets will be closed and then reopened at 7 p.m.:

• Pennsylvania Avenue from 14th Street to 15th Street, NW
• 15th Street, NW closed from Independence Avenue to New York Ave NW

The lighting ceremony starts at 5 p.m., and the National Park Service, U.S. Park Police and U.S. Secret Service will be working with local and federal law enforcement to secure the event.

If you want to attend the event, try to use the nearby Metro stations, with the Farragut North and Farragut West stations being your best bets.

There's a list of banned items at the event, and some of them are surprising, including iPads, backpacks, umbrellas, folding chairs, thermal containers, signs or flags, and tobacco products.

Image via White House